CHENNAI: Responding to DT Next’s report on thousands of senior citizens being locked out of the Pongal Special Package due to biometric failures, the Tamil Nadu government has directed fair price shops to resume iris-based Aadhaar authentication for elderly beneficiaries whose fingerprints do not match, ensuring that no eligible ration card holder is denied the Rs 3,000 cash benefit and essential commodities.

The Cooperation, Food and Civil Supplies department issued instructions, allowing the Pongal Special Package to be disbursed through iris scans, reversing the temporary suspension that had triggered widespread hardship among single-member and elderly households across the State.

Announced by Chief Minister Stalin, the package includes Rs 3,000 in cash, 1 kg of raw rice, 1 kg of sugar and sugarcane, which have been distributed through fair price shops since January 8. Problems arose after iris-based Aadhaar authentication devices were taken out of service at many ration shops, leaving senior citizens, whose fingerprints often fail due to age, unable to access their entitlements despite holding valid tokens.

A PDS staff member said they were earlier instructed to suspend iris authentication as it took more time and slowed down distribution during the peak rush. However, a senior official clarified that the department has now stepped in.

“We’ve directed shops to use iris-based authentication for elderly beneficiaries whose fingerprints fail. No eligible person will be denied the Pongal package,” the official told DT Next.